Revenue dept to hire agencies to train industry on GST

With less than six months being left for GST rollout, the revenue department has decided to hire professional bodies to impart training to trade, industry, and stake holders on the new indirect tax regime.
The government plans to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime from April next year.
The training for stakeholders would be in addition to the exercise for 60,000 revenue officials.
The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), the apex indirect tax training institute of government, has been tasked with the mammoth training of officials of both the Centre and the state governments.

As per the latest data (up to September 23) of NACEN, 3,074 field officers have been trained as against the target of 60,000.
NACEN has now invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for Approved Training Partners (ATPs) to impart GST training.

It said that as GST is proposed to be rolled out by April 2017, it is important to plan for training of trade and other stake holders.
"Considering the scale of task, it has been decided to involve training institutes and professional bodies of repute in this process," it said.
The EOI said the objective is "quality GST training at reasonable cost to trade, industry and other stake holders, as a part of the Government of India's Trade Outreach Programme for successful rollout of GST".

Preference will be given to training institutes/ professional bodies in the public sector or those associated with industry associations with proven track record of training.
The GST training programmes would be based on the Model GST Law, rules, systems and procedures.